Is annual surveillance of all treated hypothyroid patients necessary?

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Annual surveillance (with thyroid function testing) is widely recommended for the long-term follow-up of treated hypothyroid patients. It is based largely on consensus opinion and there is limited evidence to support the frequency of...

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Main Authors: Pereira Olivia, Dalziel Katherine, MacLennan Graeme, Acharya Shamsunder H, Philip Sam, Avenell Alison, Viswanath Ananth K, Copland Shirley A, Bevan John S, Abraham Prakash
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2007-07-01
Series:BMC Endocrine Disorders
Online Access:http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6823/7/4
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author Pereira Olivia
Dalziel Katherine
MacLennan Graeme
Acharya Shamsunder H
Philip Sam
Avenell Alison
Viswanath Ananth K
Copland Shirley A
Bevan John S
Abraham Prakash
author_facet Pereira Olivia
Dalziel Katherine
MacLennan Graeme
Acharya Shamsunder H
Philip Sam
Avenell Alison
Viswanath Ananth K
Copland Shirley A
Bevan John S
Abraham Prakash
author_sort Pereira Olivia
collection DOAJ
description <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Annual surveillance (with thyroid function testing) is widely recommended for the long-term follow-up of treated hypothyroid patients. It is based largely on consensus opinion and there is limited evidence to support the frequency of monitoring. The majority of patients in our hospital based thyroid register are on 18 monthly follow-up.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We carried out a retrospective analysis to see if there is evidence to support more frequent testing. We used a logistic regression model to assess whether any baseline characteristics could be applied to predict an abnormal test.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We identified 2,125 patients with a minimum of 10 years follow-up (89% female, 65% autoimmune hypothyroidism, and mean age at registration 51 years). There were 2 groups: 1182 (56%) had been allocated to 18 monthly follow-up and the rest had annual surveillance. The groups were well matched at baseline. Overall, during follow-up the 12 monthly group had more abnormal tests requiring dose adjustment. However, on logistic regression analysis, people aged less than 60 years, individuals taking < 150 μg thyroxine per day and people on 18 monthly follow-up had less abnormal tests.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>18 monthly surveillance may be adequate in the long term follow-up of hypothyroid patients less than 60 years of age on a stable thyroxine dose of 100–150 μg/day where there are robust follow-up mechanisms in place. Implementing this strategy has potential for cost saving.</p>
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spelling doaj.art-5d357d025b834d44a45acc5133507b8f2022-12-22T00:10:32ZengBMCBMC Endocrine Disorders1472-68232007-07-0171410.1186/1472-6823-7-4Is annual surveillance of all treated hypothyroid patients necessary?Pereira OliviaDalziel KatherineMacLennan GraemeAcharya Shamsunder HPhilip SamAvenell AlisonViswanath Ananth KCopland Shirley ABevan John SAbraham Prakash<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Annual surveillance (with thyroid function testing) is widely recommended for the long-term follow-up of treated hypothyroid patients. It is based largely on consensus opinion and there is limited evidence to support the frequency of monitoring. The majority of patients in our hospital based thyroid register are on 18 monthly follow-up.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We carried out a retrospective analysis to see if there is evidence to support more frequent testing. We used a logistic regression model to assess whether any baseline characteristics could be applied to predict an abnormal test.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We identified 2,125 patients with a minimum of 10 years follow-up (89% female, 65% autoimmune hypothyroidism, and mean age at registration 51 years). There were 2 groups: 1182 (56%) had been allocated to 18 monthly follow-up and the rest had annual surveillance. The groups were well matched at baseline. Overall, during follow-up the 12 monthly group had more abnormal tests requiring dose adjustment. However, on logistic regression analysis, people aged less than 60 years, individuals taking < 150 μg thyroxine per day and people on 18 monthly follow-up had less abnormal tests.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>18 monthly surveillance may be adequate in the long term follow-up of hypothyroid patients less than 60 years of age on a stable thyroxine dose of 100–150 μg/day where there are robust follow-up mechanisms in place. Implementing this strategy has potential for cost saving.</p>http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6823/7/4
spellingShingle Pereira Olivia
Dalziel Katherine
MacLennan Graeme
Acharya Shamsunder H
Philip Sam
Avenell Alison
Viswanath Ananth K
Copland Shirley A
Bevan John S
Abraham Prakash
Is annual surveillance of all treated hypothyroid patients necessary?
BMC Endocrine Disorders
title Is annual surveillance of all treated hypothyroid patients necessary?
title_full Is annual surveillance of all treated hypothyroid patients necessary?
title_fullStr Is annual surveillance of all treated hypothyroid patients necessary?
title_full_unstemmed Is annual surveillance of all treated hypothyroid patients necessary?
title_short Is annual surveillance of all treated hypothyroid patients necessary?
title_sort is annual surveillance of all treated hypothyroid patients necessary
url http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6823/7/4
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